March 2015

In this Lenten series I would like to invite you to consider Jesus’ “outstretched arms of love” toward all who followed him as disciples, seeking to emulate his life, self-sacrifice, and humble service to others. Today we will reflect on one distinct time and way Jesus stretched out his arms of love to all who beheld his glory, believed his message, belonged as his disciples, and sought to become more and more like his image and with more of their true identity in Christ Alone.

Read Mark 6: 30-44

Participating in meaningful ministry was Jesus’ goal for his disciples. Not just hanging out with him, traveling throughout Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem, walking, eating, sleeping and doing life together. Instead, the disciples were actively engaged in serving others with and for Jesus.

In this account of the feeding of the five thousand, we see a handful of ways Jesus involves his disciples in serving the needs of others. They first of all reported to Jesus all they had done and taught, keeping close accountability with the Lord. They also joined Jesus in a quiet place where they could rest and be replenished for the days ahead. Jesus invited them to come with him into those solitary places, knowing their need for regular breaks from the crowds that were beginning to exponentially form around Jesus.

On this particular occasion, Jesus had compassion on the large crowd, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd. His teaching ministry was continuing to expand, often late into the evening, in both the countryside and the villages. Seeing their need for food, he instructed his disciples to give them something to eat. They asked, “With just five loaves and two fish?” As the disciples assembled the crowd into groups of hundreds and fifties, he took the loaves and fish and lifted them up to heaven. He gave thanks and broke the loaves, giving the pieces to the disciples to distribute among them all.

After everyone was miraculously fed, the disciples picked up the broken pieces left behind, filling twelve basketfuls of bread and fish. A total of 5,000 were fed on that day. This encounter was enticing each of the disciples to the mission of their Lord Jesus. This inevitably impressed upon their hearts the transformational values of listening, obedience, and faithful service to others in need.

Who among us doesn’t want to be engaged in meaningful work for the Kingdom of God? When we know that our efforts are not extended in vain, we share more fully in the mission of God. Every effort in this most miraculous feeding was laced with the compassion of Jesus. Every ounce of energy was expended for the Gospel King Jesus was proclaiming. These experiences solidified the disciples’ commitment to more fully participate in Kingdom efforts, with Jesus and as a team.

Whether in the form of miracles, or simple acts of kindness, Jesus offers his disciples meaningful ministry that would expand the swath of the Gospel everywhere they traveled. The grace-filled Gospel was shared freely and generously as a tangible expression of Jesus’ outstretched arms of love. Therefore, behold Jesus inviting his disciples into fruitful ministry; believe firmly in the Gospel that proclaims truth, grace and love both far and wide; belong to the communion of saints who carry on his legacy of love; and become more outward in your service to the King and his Kingdom.

In this Lenten series I would like to invite you to consider Jesus’ “outstretched arms of love” toward all who followed him as disciples, seeking to emulate his life, self-sacrifice, and humble service to others. Today we will reflect on one distinct time and way Jesus stretched out his arms of love to all who beheld his glory, believed his message, belonged as his disciples, and sought to become more and more like his image and with more of their true identity in Christ Alone.

Read Matthew 10: 16-42

When the disciples were sent out by Jesus, they had no idea how radical would be their message or their Messenger. As Jesus prepares them to spread out and serve side by side, he speaks provocatively and proactively to them. One can only imagine the surprise look on their faces when Jesus makes it clear: they would be sent out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, Jesus urges them to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. They were to be on guard against men, for brother will betray brother; father his child; children will rebel against their parents.  In fact, Jesus says, all men will hate you because of Me. Following Jesus as 1^st Century disciples was filled with suffering, challenge, and hardship, as well as all the miraculous healings, releases from bondage, and abundance of spiritual vitality in Christ.

This is not the kind of message disciples of Jesus in the 21^st Century like to hear. We prefer hearing that following Jesus will take us into lands filled with milk and honey, where we will prosper in worldly ways in order to fulfill the dreams we’ve been taught from childhood to pursue: upward mobility in education, wealth, influence and possessions. But, when we look carefully at the biblical Gospel accounts, we don’t see anything like that whatsoever. In fact, quite the contrary. Jesus makes it clear,“Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

The Gospel of Jesus requires our full selves in full obedience being fully sold out to fully extend ourselves, so that the message is richly proclaimed in both word and deed. God is love, and when we receive his love the discipleship we’re invited into is a whole life devoting our entire life to give our complete life away…to Jesus, for Jesus, and all because of Jesus.

Jesus’ outstretched arms of love were opened fully for his disciples to receive. Their lives were transformed from the moment they met Jesus, and their desire to follow him was enhanced over time as they saw him in action.  But, living with and for Jesus required each of them to give all of themselves. No turning back. Nothing withheld. No holes barred. No compromise. No love for another more than Jesus. No other life was theirs to live but the one Jesus offered and empowered.

What about you, friend? Freely you’ve received, will you now freely give? His arms are outstretched toward you, will you welcome the loving embrace of Jesus? Will you give all for the sake of the cross of Christ, the very destination we’re heading toward this Lenten season? Behold Jesus giving his disciples immersion training in discipleship; believe that life and ministry in Jesus is always worth the cost; belong to the fellowship of the suffering; and become a disciple committed to living wholly for Jesus.

In this Lenten series I would like to invite you to consider Jesus’ “outstretched arms of love” toward all who followed him as disciples, seeking to emulate his life, self-sacrifice, and humble service to others. Today we will reflect on one distinct time and way Jesus stretched out his arms of love to all who beheld his glory, believed his message, belonged as his disciples, and sought to become more and more like his image and with more of their true identity in Christ Alone.

Read Matthew 10: 1-20

When Jesus called his disciples to follow him, he also gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. It’s amazing to consider the responsibility assigned to the twelve men he chose to be his closest companions. The fact that he empowered them to act in his behalf, giving them full power to do as he would do if he were in their sandals, dramatically displays his generously outstretched arms of love.

As he sent them out to serve in his name, he offered them some very specific instructions. They were to go to the lost sheep of Israel, with an intentionality that defined them as emissaries of Jesus.  As they traveled along their assigned pathway of service, they were given a specific message: preach the Kingdom of heaven is near. The Kingdom was Jesus’ favorite topic; he spoke of this more than any other issue. His desire was for his disciples to embrace and embody the richness of Christ’s Kingdom.

The disciples’ ministry was to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper, and drive out demons. They were set apart to perform miraculous healing in Jesus’ name, so that God would receive all the glory, honor and praise. They were not to be entrapped by anything that would hinder their mission, message or ministry. Instead, they were to travel light: no gold, silver or copper in their belts; no bag or extra tunic, sandals or staff for them to carry.

The entirety of Matthew chapter ten is filled with instructions. “Freely they have received, so freely they are to give” was their lived refrain. “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me” (Matthew 10: 40). The disciples would be receivable to others, not because of who they were as remarkable human beings, as a reflection of the God who sent them out in his name.

Each of us as 21^st Century disciples follow the same instruction manual as the 1^st Century disciples. The specifics may be edited per generation, but the overarching and guiding principles are cross-generational. We are to travel light. We are to find others who will bless and send us from place to place, as companions who share our faith community and mission. We have a message to proclaim and a ministry to perform…empowered by the Spirit, all for the glory of God, and all for the fulfillment of Christ’s Kingdom here on earth.  What Kingdom building activity is God calling you to this day? And, more abundantly in this season of your life in Christ?

Behold the King who offers clear instruction to all who follow him; believe in this great God who will make his way clear for you too; belong to the company of disciples who walk with him each new day; and become a faithful disciple who delights to follow Jesus into both familiar and uncharted terrain.

In this Lenten series I would like to invite you to consider Jesus’ “outstretched arms of love” toward all who followed him as disciples, seeking to emulate his life, self-sacrifice, and humble service to others. Today we will reflect on one distinct time and way Jesus stretched out his arms of love to all who beheld his glory, believed his message, belonged as his disciples, and sought to become more and more like his image and with more of their true identity in Christ Alone.

Read Matthew 4: 18-22 and Luke 5: 1-11

As Jesus was walking along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, he points out two brothers who were fishermen. He calls out a simple invitation, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  At first we read this and are astonished how quickly the men responded. In fact, the Scriptures use the words “at once” and “without delay” and “immediately.” Upon reflection, you might wonder, “Who in their right mind would drop their nets and blindly follow the voice of a stranger?

Thankfully, Luke gives us a bit more detail in his rendering of the story; they weren’t so blind after all. Jesus was indeed standing by the lake, with people starting to crowd around him and listening to him share the Word of God. So, as the crowd was thickening, he noticed two boats left there by the fishermen. One of them belonged to Simon (Peter) so he asked if it would be ok if he got in and if Simon would take him out away from the shore so Jesus could continue to teach the crowd of listeners.

In return for his gratitude, and after he was finished speaking, Jesus offers his outstretched arms of love to Simon by suggesting that he row out to the deep water and let the nets down for a catch. Simon respectfully shares with Jesus that they were hard at work all night long but hadn’t caught anything. However, Simon and his companions eventually do as Jesus suggested, and they catch more fish than their nets could handle. In fact, so many fish that their boats began to sink. They were astonished, so Simon falls down at Jesus’ feet and pleads with him to “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Jesus comforts Simon Peter with the simple response, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” It was at that moment that Peter, his brother Andrew, James and his brother John, left everything behind and followed Jesus.

There is something very heartening in this story of invitation and followership. It’s all about Jesus’ love for others, his demonstration of that love through acts of kindness and miraculous affection. Each time he revealed himself and invited others to follow him, it was in the context of their normal lives and relationships. Jesus comes alongside others in very personal ways, reveals himself in ordinary and extraordinary ways, and then makes an offer few could refuse.

In the same way Jesus has come beside you, knows your name, is sensitive to your context, and desirous of expressing his love in tangible and intangible ways.  Behold him giving his disciples a loving invitation to follow; believe he will keep calling out your name; belong to the companions of Jesus who love to follow him; and become fully alive in the prospect of eternal invitations which will lead you into an abundant life in Christ.